A five-year-old boy was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend because he mispronounced the word 'sad' during a home schooling session, according to police reports.

The horrifying details surrounding the end of Dashawn Harris' young life emerged in court on Wednesday. His mother Lashay Patterson, 23, and her 25-year-old boyfriend Christian Patrick were told they would be charged with first-degree murder.

Every time the little boy stumbled over the 'a' sound in 'sad' at his Philadelphia home, Patrick would punch him or give him a lash with his belt, authorities said.